Kabul (Afghanistan), December 21: Taliban has announced an indefinite ban on university education for Afghan girls, according to a letter by the Taliban's higher education minister.
"The Ministry of Higher Education in a letter has ordered the suspension of higher education for female students in Afghanistan until the next announcement," Afghan agency TOLO news reported.
Soon after the disturbing announcement, the United States condemned the move.
Addressing a press briefing, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price called education an "internationally recognized human right" and warned that the Taliban's "unacceptable stance" will have consequences for them and further isolate the group from the international community.
"The United States condemns, in the strongest terms, the Taliban's indefensible decision to ban women from universities, to keep secondary schools closed to girls, and to continue to impose other restrictions on the ability of women and girls in Afghanistan to exercise their human rights and their fundamental freedoms," Ned Price stated.
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The Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021 and imposed policies severely restricting basic rights, particularly those of women and girls.
The Islamic group removed all women from civil service leadership positions and barred girls from attending secondary school in the majority of provinces.
Taliban decrees forbid women from travelling unless accompanied by a male relative and require women to cover their faces in public, including female television newsreaders.
On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasised the importance of ensuring human rights in Afghanistan, particularly the rights of women and girls, the right of women to work, and the right of girls to attend school at all levels.
"Well, there are several clear things that we believe the Taliban must deliver from the standpoint of the international community and the standpoint of Afghanistan itself," the UN chief said at a press conference.
"We have different ethnic groups, and it's important that all ethnic groups are represented. A second aspect in relation to human rights, in particular women and girls' rights, the right of women to work, the right of girls to attend school at all levels without discrimination," he said.
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